Cycle 4 Underway

Caroline was admitted today for Cycle 4 of her treatment plan for relapsed Neuroblastoma. She will receive 2 different chemotherapies (Temodar and Irinotecan), and 1 Antibody Immunotherapy (Dinutuximab), as well as a laundry list of medications to combat the intense side effects.

When Caroline is inpatient, the week typically gets progressively harder for her (and us), due to compounding side effects of the treatment. Our hope is for an uneventful cycle so we can stay on track to be discharged this Saturday.

We are very grateful to all our prayer warriors and helpers that have assisted with meals, purchased t-shirts, gift cards, etc. We feel very blessed and fortunate to have such wonderful neighbors, friends and family all around the country.

Lastly, we wanted to say a very special “thank you” and “we miss you already” to one of our faves: Dr. Saara! Dr. Saara moved to Chicago last week to start a new chapter in her pediatric oncology and immunology career with the University of Chicago Children’s Hospital. Words cannot adequately express how much she’s meant to our family and Caroline’s journey over the past 5 years. We will miss you SK!

Thanks for everything!
The Lantz Family
#carolinestrong

#ftgf

Continued ways to help:
Purchase #carolinestrong T-Shirts
Donate Blood in Caroline's Honor
Contribute to Medical Expenses via GoFundMe
Family Meals via UberEats (email to margaretlantz@gmail.com)

Ready for a week in the hospital!

We love you, Saara!

Cycle 3 Inpatient Stay - Complete

Today, Caroline completed the inpatient portion for Cycle 3 of her treatment plan for relapsed high-risk Neuroblastoma. She had a very rough week emotionally - lots of processing the diagnosis, its long treatment plan, and overall scariness of it all...otherwise, the side effects during her stay were the usual fevers, nausea, diarrhea, and pain.

Like the previous two cycles, Caroline will get Leukine shots each day (for a week) to boost her immune system while she recovers at home.  Her next clinic/labs appointment will be on Friday (6/17),  and her next scheduled inpatient admission for Cycle 4 will begin June 27th, assuming all goes as planned.

BIG shout out to our amazing Thales Academy family for the end of year celebration / fundraiser for Caroline yesterday. Nisha, Rachel, Mill Creek Brewing, and all that made it happen and attended - many thanks!

Please keep the prayers coming!

~The Lantz Family
#carolinestrong

#ftgf

Ways to help:

Donate Blood in Caroline's Honor

NEW: Meal Train

Cycle 3 Inpatient Stay = COMPLETE!

Starting Cycle 3

Caroline made her ANC count requirement this morning and was admitted inpatient at Vanderbilt for Cycle 3 of her treatment for relapsed High-Risk Neuroblastoma. Today she will receive 2 chemotherapies along with various other drugs for side affects.

Tuesday through Saturday, she will receive both chemos + an antibody immunotherapy drug which will be accompanied by a 24-7 Dilaudid drip for pain management.  We are hoping that she gets through this week with minimal side affects and hopefully can get home late Saturday. 

Thank you for all the prayers and support!

The Lantz Family

#carolinestrong
#ftgf

#mood upon arrival

Progress Scans - Results

Caroline just concluded 2 long days of testing at Vanderbilt: labs/blood tests, audiology testing, a PET scan, a CT scan, and a bone marrow biopsy.

We are relieved to report that the results are all positive. She had 4 main areas of concern on the original scans in early April.  After 2 cycles of treatment, 3 of the spots are now essentially gone, and the 4th tumor shrunk by about 60%.  Additionally, her bone marrow biopsy detected no active Neuroblastoma cells.  Caroline will continue the same protocol for up to 15 more cycles: 2 types of chemo and antibody while inpatient for a week, followed by 2 weeks at home to recover/clinic check-in appointments...2 down, 15 to go!  It's still a very long road ahead, but we are celebrating the small wins and will continue to fight alongside her. 

Assuming Caroline's "counts" (ANC #) meets the minimum requirement to receive treatment, she will be admitted on Monday (6/6) for her 3rd round of treatment; if her counts aren't high enough, she will wait a week and be admitted on the following Monday/when counts recover.  We will post an update on the blog.

We are thankful for all the meals, prayers and support from friends, family and friends of friends...and a HUGE shoutout to the medical team at Vanderbilt for helping us work through this once again.

The Lantz Family 
#ftgf
#carolinestrong

Donate Blood in Caroline's Honor

#carolinestrong T-Shirts

Contribute to Medical Expenses via GoFundMe

Family Meals via UberEats (email to margaretlantz@gmail.com)

In the sedation room ready for her bone marrow biopsy.

Audiology testing.

CT Scan in progress.

Reaction after finding out the cycles are working!

Super special visit from Uncle Paulie!